America Competes Act Passes

University of Massachusetts > STEM > America Competes Act Passes

Forwarded by NASSMC Aug 3,2007

Press Release : August 2, 2007

Gordon: House Passes Landmark Bill Investing in America's Students, Teachers, Workers

(Washington,  DC)  Members  of  the  U.S.  House  of Representatives passed groundbreaking  legislation  today  aimed  at  ensuring  the United States' strong  footing  as  a global economic leader and retaining our "brainpower
advantage."

"Now  is  the time for us to strengthen our support for the creativity, the innovation  and the talented workforce that makes the U.S. unique and gives us our competitive edge," said Science & Technology Committee Chairman Bart
Gordon (D-TN), lead House negotiator on the bill.

As  cleared  by the House today, the conference agreement on H.R. 2272, the America  Creating  Opportunities  to  Meaningfully  Promote  Excellence  in Technology,  Education  and  Science  Act (COMPETES), makes improvements to math  and  science  education  and  strengthens  the nation's commitment to scientific research.

"Securing  a  brighter  future  for  our  children is simply not a partisan issue.  I'm  proud that my colleagues and I have been able to work together to  move  this  bill forward - this truly a team effort," added Gordon, who began  work  on  competitiveness  and  innovation  legislation in the 109th Congress.

The  measure  is designed to ensure U.S. students, teachers, businesses and workers  are prepared to continue leading the world in innovation, research and  technology,  well  into  the  future. The bill represents a conference committee agreement melding House (H.R. 2272) and Senate bills (S. 761).

The  America  COMPETES  Act  is  based  upon  the  recommendations  of  the widely-regarded   2005   National  Academies'  report,  "Rising  Above  the Gathering  Storm."  That report, requested by a bipartisan, bicameral group of  lawmakers  including the leaders of this Committee, found that the U.S. stands to lose its competitive edge over other nations without action.

Among its findings: in 1999, 68 percent of U.S. 8th grade students received math instruction from a teacher who lacked a degree or certification in the field.  In  2000,  93  percent  of students in grades 5-9 received physical science  instruction  from teachers who lacked a degree or certification in the physical sciences (chemistry, geology, general science or physics).

In  high  schools,  about  30  percent  of  math students and 60 percent of physical  science  students  face  the same fact. The numbers are worse for low-income  students,  where  70  percent of their math teachers majored in something other than math in college.

To address these concerns, the COMPETES Act:
Authorizes  a  total  of  $33.6  billion  dollars  over  fiscal years 2008-2010  for  science,  technology,  engineering  and math  (STEM) education programs across the federal government; Authorizes  multiple  grant  programs  at various federal agencies to help  educate current and future teachers in the areas of science and math education; Creates  the Technology  Innovation  Program  (TIP)  at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Establishes  the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), designed  to  engage  in high-risk, high reward energy research under the Department of Energy; And  keeps  budgets  for  research  programs  at the National Science Foundation  (NSF),  National  Institute  of  Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science on a path to doubling within the near term.

The  conference  report  has  been  endorsed by a wide variety of academic, research  and  business  groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National  Association  of  Manufacturers,  the  Business Roundtable and the Information Technology Industry Council.

The  Senate is expected to consider the conference report on H.R. 2272 this week.

James W. McMurtray
Executive Director
National Alliance of State Science & Mathematics Coalitions
1840 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201-3000
Telephone: 703-516-5973  Fax: 703-516-5979
URL: www.nassmc.org

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